Balcony with a View

Incoming

Paper Wasp

Gulf Wars 2019

After fencing for just over a year I was lucky enough to go to Gulf Wars. It is an annual event held in March just outside of Lumberton, Mississippi. For a week you camp, fight, and enjoy the medieval immersive environment. It is described as “a war with no enemies” and it is one of the biggest SCA gatherings. Ryan and I had both applied for a first time attendee scholarship and had been two out of five winning recipients. I was so excited to go.

Unfortunately, I had to put down my cat the week before leaving. Sorrow prevented me from packing as effectively as I would have like to. Everything I needed to do got crammed into the two days prior and I’d barely slept. By the time Tim came to pick me up at 6am I’d just managed to gather my bags by the door and I was a fragile mess. 

“Do you have everything you need?”

“I’m not really sure” I admitted as I scanned the pile one last time.

“Are you going to be ok?”

“I hope so” 

We exchanged a hug before we got in the car to pick up Ryan. And with that, we were off to War. 

Tim and Ryan loading the car for the nine hour drive. 

Experiencing a fabulous hair day at a windy gas station.

One of the local treats; maple sugar flavored corn puffs.

Our first night on site.

Morning with the Dark-an-Flung camp.

James (Seth) and Hywel (Ian) in front of the Gold Star camp.

James (Seth) giving me a tour of the site.

The marketplace.

Cooling down on a hot day with Bruce (Alexis) and Chlothar (Tim).

Daggers on display.

Chlothar (Tim)

The charming Green Dragon Tavern.

The Rapier Field.

Photo by Ryan Cimino

Wearing the lovely coat that was given to me by Eua (Adrianne).

The Verona Street Battle. It was the most theatrical of the fights, full of dramatic deaths.

Chlothar (Tim) practicing with Bruce (Alexis).

Her Royal Highness Catherine Furnier (Catherine).

Giovanni (Ryan) and Matthias (Todd) observing the practice.

Fencers resting between matches.

Trying to catch my breath after my first fencing melee. Up until this fight I had only fought other fencers one-on-one. Being in a battlefield scenario was overwhelming and exhilarating.

Me and Miklos (Marc).

Miklos (Marc) and Chlothar (Tim).

Giovanni (Ryan)

Fencers gathering before the Rose Tourney. The Rose Tourney is one of the biggest fencing events of the year. It is a formal event where fencers are fighting for the honor of a particular rose (noble). 

The nobility addressing the crowd before opponents were selected.

I had the honor of fighting for Her Royal Highness Catherine Furnier (Catherine) who is an accomplished fencer in her own right.

Giovanni (Ryan) and Catherine Furnier (Catherine). Giovanni (Ryan) and I both made it to the second round.

Matthias (Todd) made it to one of the final rounds.

Photo by unknown

Giovanni (Ryan), Miklos (Marc), Chlothar (Tim), Sibilla, Davius, Matthias (Todd), Elena, Yoan (Rickey), Hélèna (myself), and Allison (Vicky).

Yoan (Rickey) catching his breath after The Field Battle. He had literally been the last man standing on our team. He was on the field with several members of the other side closing in on him. He managed to evade them for quite some time, striking down many of them before he was finally overtaken. 

Augustine (Justin) and Jen, both fellow scholarship recepients, with Zhao Fong (Keith), who had led us into battle.

Giovanni (Ryan) and Thalassia working hard to make dinner for the hungry campers.

Giovanni (Ryan) and Sibilla.

Wolgemut, a lively historical band from Germany, playing for an enthuiastic crowd.

One of the fencers with her Russian wolfhound.

The tank.

James (Seth) armoured up for his heavy battle.

Solomon (Spider) marshaling for the heavy battle.

Sebastian and Zahra (Nancy).

I met this rugged warrior between fights. He refused water and instead only asked for a cigarette.

Me and James (Seth).

James (Seth) explaining how he made his armour.

The battlefield.

James (Seth) recounting his battlefield stories. 

During Gulf Wars James (Seth) became a squire to his knight Teric (Theo). He took a red belt as a symbol of his fealty.

One of the traditions is the “puppy pile”. After James (Seth) took his belt, friends and fellow fighters literally pile on their support.

James (Seth) and Hywel (Ian) underneath the puppy pile.

James (Seth) and Teric (Theo).

Zhao Fong (Keith) and Jen.

Chlothar (Tim), Yoan (Rickey), Elena, and Giovanni (Ryan).

Chlothar (Tim)

Bruce (Alexis) and Chlothar (Tim).

Giovanni (Ryan) saluting the crown before his Champions Battle.

Johan (John) during his match.

James (Seth), Giovanni (Ryan), Hélèna (myself), and Zahra (Nancy).

Jean (Bear) during his match.

Hywel’s (Ian’s) match.

Valentin (Richard) and Ekaterina (Deb).

Faelynn, the daughter of Johan (John) and Vivienne (Erika), insisted on me taking a picture of her in her lovely dress.

Wolgemut performing at the Green Dragon Tavern.

Another fascinating element of the SCA is the arts and sciences. People work tirelessly to recreate all kinds of amazing things the same way they would have been done hundreds of years ago.

Eyrny and Zhao Fong (Keith).

Spear practice.

Zahra (Nancy)

Bruce (Alexis) helping me practice my foot work. 

Miklos (Marc), Aubelet (Aaron), Bruce (Alexis), Matthias (Todd), and Seonaid (Claire).

Giovanni (Ryan) wearing the necklace made for him by Ken. 

The last morning at Gulf Wars.

Ryan stomping out the ants on his tent.

Beth had come into our camp trying to see if anyone had found her broches. No one had seen them but a few moments later her husband came by to surprise her with a new set of broches. Absolutely adorable!